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Some have pointed to Europe and others to central Asia or China, but up until now it was thought the transformation of wolves into domestic dogs only happened once.

Animal domestication is a rare thing

Professor Greger Larson, from Oxford University

Academics led by scientists from Oxford University discovered evidence of a genetic split between modern dog populations from eastern Asia and Europe after comparing DNA signatures from more than 2,500 modern dogs with ancient genetic material of 59 animals that lived between 3,000 and 14,000 years ago.

The team was also able to sequence the full genome of a 4,800-old-dog from Newgrange, Ireland, by using one of the animal's bones. Professor Greger Larson, from Oxford University, said: "Animal domestication is a rare thing and a lot of evidence is required to overturn the assumption that it happened just once in any species.

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Scientists have long debated where dogs were originally domesticated

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"Our ancient DNA evidence, combined with the archaeological record of early dogs, suggests that we need to reconsider the number of times dogs were domesticated independently.

"Maybe the reason there hasn't yet been a consensus about where dogs were domesticated is because everyone has been a little bit right."

The latest findings are published in the current issue of the journal Science. Co-author Professor Keith Dobney, who co-directs the dog domestication project at the University of Liverpool, said a "new coherent story" of the origins of the domestic dog was now beginning to emerge.

He added: "With so much new and exciting data to come, we will finally be able to uncover the true history of man's best friend."

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According to this new theory two seperate wolf packs meeting could be the origin of modern pooches

Colleague Professor Dan Bradley, from Trinity College Dublin, who led analysis of the Newgrange bone, said: "The Newgrange dog bone had the best preserved ancient DNA we have ever encountered, giving us prehistoric genome of rare high quality.

"It is not just a postcard from the past, rather a full package special delivery."